T h e S t . C l a i r T o w n s h i pT h e S t . C l a i r T o w n s h i p

B E A C O NB E A C O N Issue 5Issue 5 Volume 10Volume 10 May 2017May 2017

INSIDEINSIDE

Photo courtesy Carl Hnatyshyn/Sarnia This Week

Municipal Notes Page 2

Heritage Corner

Page 5,6

Good

Neighbour

Page 8

Community Contact Page 15

Mooretown Sports Complex

Page 16

Around the Township

Pages 18-20

Summer means action along the St. Clair River Trail

As part of Lambton College’s 50th anniversary cele-bration and its Legacy Program, St. Clair Township was honoured for its on-going support of the college with a tree-planting ceremony at the St. Clair Township Civic Centre on April 5. St. Clair Township Council and staff, as well as many students, faculty, and staff members from Lambton College, were on hand for the ceremo-ny. The semi-circular stand of 10 paper birch trees rep-resents a symbolic giving-back, through the Lambton College Legacy Program, to those who consistently sup-port the important educational and enrichment oppor-tunities the college provides to this community and beyond. Mayor Arnold expressed gratitude for the col-lege’s gift and restated council’s belief in supporting Lambton College. He noted the college is of great val-ue to the people of St. Clair Township, providing world-class post-secondary educational opportunities to

those who would otherwise have to seek their training, and their future, at an institution far from their com-munity. Lambton College staff attending included: front row, fourth from right, Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Dean, Applied Research and Innovation; front row, third from right, Andrea Hands, Research Development and Outreach Co-ordinator, Applied Research; front row, fourth from left, Jeanne Frenette, Lambton Col-lege Support Staff; in crowd, Alastair MacKay, Coordi-nator, Culinary Management and Professor Michael Mansfield. Municipal council and staff members who attended the event included, front row left: Councillor Jim DeGurse; Deputy Mayor Peter Gilliland; fourth from left, Councillor Tracey Kingston; Mayor Steve Arnold; Director of Community Services Linda Kennedy (trench coat); CAO John Rodey, second from right; and Clerk Jeff Baranek, far right.

S u m -m e r ’ s here and t h a t

means plenty of activity and action along the St. Clair River Trail. Two big successes from 2016 are back again. The Ride Don’t Hide event on Sunday, June 25 and the St. Clair River Run on Satur-

day, July 15 attracted hundreds of en-thusiastic participants last year and or-ganizers expect numbers will be just as impressive, if not better, than last year. For more infor-mation, see page 17.

Support for Lambton College acknowledged with tree planting

Canada 150

EVENT

Info section

Pages 9-12

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 2

Municipal NotesMunicipal Notes

The Beacon is edited by Bonnie Stevenson and issued monthly by St. Clair Township as a public service to township.

Council meeting scheduleCouncil meeting schedule

St. Clair Township Council meets every first and third Monday of the month (with exceptions to accommodate holidays). The next meetings will be held on Monday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. The Committee of the Whole meet-ing will be held separately on Monday, May 8 at 3 p.m. Anyone wishing to address council should call the municipal office at 519-867-2021 for further information.

HYDRANT FLUSHING

St. Clair Township Residents

Public Works will be undertaking annual flushing of fire hydrants connected to the St. Clair Township Wa-ter Distribution System during the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning May, 2017 and continuing into the fall. During this maintenance procedure, you may notice some water discolouration when using taps, flushing toilets, doing laundry, etc. as some sediment may be drawn into your residence. We recommend that you run the cold water tap for a few minutes or until discolouration disappears.

If discolouration of the water continues after 10-15 minutes of normal use, please notify Public Works at 519-867-2993.

Public Works will be flushing sewer mains connect-ed to the St. Clair Township sewer system during the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning April, 2017 and continuing into the fall. During this maintenance procedure, you may notice some gurgling noises in drains.

If conditions persist after 24-48 hours of normal use, please notify Public Works at 519-867-2993.

SEWER MAIN

FLUSHING

St. Clair Township Residents

The 2017 Interim Tax due date is May 3

Moore Community & Recreational Foundation - application deadline

The deadline for Moore Community and Recreation Foundation financial assistance is May 31, 2017. For detailed information about the foundation and to obtain a grant request form, visit the St. Clair Township Website at: www.twp.stclair.on.ca For further infor-mation, please contact Charles Quenneville, Treasurer, or Mayor Steve Arnold at 519-867-2024 or 1-800-809-0301.

Courtright Park receives WECI funding

The sea wall and dock at Courtright Park has been a matter of concern for council and local citizens for sever-al years, and a new restoration project has been in the works for about three years. Now, through the Conserva-tion Ontario Water Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) program, funding has been received to allow phase one of a two-phase restoration project to begin. This phase will see the replacement of the old sea wall at the south end of the park, which is severely eroded and has many areas where exposed corroded rebar presents a hazard to park users. The shoreline will be reinforced with huge blocks of armour stone to produce an attractive, stepped barrier like the one already in place in Guthrie Park north of Co-runna. The announcement of the pending improvements at Courtright Park has been well received by residents who have been unhappy over the park’s current state of disrepair.

Interim tax notices were mailed out in January.

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 3

The school year may be winding down, but the need for crossing guards remains. The Township of St. Clair requires a crossing guard(s) to assist school children crossing streets in Corunna. The work involves one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon on school days. The current compensa-tion is $28.95 per day. The Township of St. Clair also requires fill-in crossing guard(s) to assist children crossing at various locations in Corunna. The work involves one hour in the morn-ing and one hour after school in the afternoon. The current compensation is $28.95 per day. The position will be on a “call in” basis and hours will vary widely depending on the need.

Applications setting out qualifications and experience will be received by the undersigned.

David Neely Co-coordinator of Operations

Phone (519)867-2125 Fax (519)867-3886

St. Clair Civic Centre,1155 Emily Street Mooretown, Ontario, N0N 1M0

St. Clair Township crossing guards sought

St. Clair River Trail now connected to Trans Canada Trail The St. Clair River Trail has

been officially connected to the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) through a motion passed by St. Clair Township at its March 20 meeting. The TCT now enters St. Clair Township at Sombra, joining from the west along Bentpath Line’s paved shoul-ders from Marthaville Road (which becomes County Road 21/Irish School Road) and running 7.5 kilometres along the St. Clair River Trail to enter Chatham-Kent. It links up again with the existing TCT in Dresden.

Council agreed to the approval of a resolution permitting the trail connection, confirming insur-ance coverage for that stretch of the TCT, and agreeing to install signs along the route indicating

Retiring Coordinator of Operations Gary DePooter was honoured by St. Clair Town-ship Council at its April 3 meeting. Mr. DePooter has served for 31 years, begin-ning with the Township of Sombra before its amalgamation with the Township of Moore. Mayor Steve Arnold thanked him for his over three decades of devoted ser-vice and presented him with a token of appreciation from the Township.

Photo by Darrell Randell

its inclusion in the TCT. Mayor Arnold sees this connec-tion to the national trail as a plus for those who traverse the trail system. “Our section of the Trans Canada Trail will be a wonderful addition to the overall trail,” he said. “The trip along the St. Clair River and the paved shoulders along the county road sections will give the cycling tourist a

wonderful, scenic experience.” The TCT connection provides a tangible link be-

tween St. Clair Township and the rest of Canada. The Trans Canada Trail is a 24,000 kilometre, coast-to-coast trail linking 15,000 communities across Canada. The former TCT route ran southwest from Wallaceburg along the Snye River, turning east at Whitebread Line at the Chatham-Kent border. The new St. Clair River Trail section adds about 47 kilo-metres to the TCT.

The new connection also provides the TCT with an additional international border crossing between Sombra and Marine City, connecting with Michigan’s bridge to Bay Trail, establishing an international cycling loop that uses the ferries of Walpole Island First Nations/Algonac to complete the loop.

Above: Simplified view of Trans Canada Trail (before the addition was approved).

150

Trivia Q: Ottawa was not the first choice when a capital city was being chosen for what later became the country of Canada. What was the first choice?

A: Corunna! What happened? See page 8.

Lambton County Library’s Mobile Makerspace exhibits will be mak-ing the rounds at St. Clair Township library branches in the next few months. Each will stay for three weeks before being moved to the next location.

Participation in a workshop is required to operate some of the equipment and a valid library card is also required to use the equip-ment. Here are Makerspace exhibits coming to your local library:

Brigden: until May 8 - Button Maker and Wacom Tablets; May 12-May 30 - Snap Circuits and Electrical Crafts.

Corunna: until May 8 - 3D Printer and 3D Pens; May 12-May 30 - Necomimi and Mindwave.

Courtright: until May 8 - Ozobots (robotics); May 12-May 30 - Sphe-ro and Air Hogs (robotics).

Mooretown: until May 8 - Sphero and Air Hogs (robotics); May 12-May 30 - 3D Printer and 3D Pen.

Port Lambton: until May 8 - Dash & Dot (robotics); May 12-May 30 - Sewing Machine and Soft Circuits.

Sombra: until May 8 - Sewing Machine and Soft Circuits; May 12-May 30 - Ozobots (robotics).

Wilkesport: until May 8 - Snap Circuits and Electrical Crafts; May 12-May 30 - Dash & Dots (robotics).

To find out what’s new at your local library, go online to: www.lclibrary.ca or outside of Wyoming, call toll-free to 1-866-324-6912 with any questions or concerns. Some regularly offered programs at Lambton County Library branches require registration but drop-in programs can be attended without registration. All programs are free unless otherwise noted. To contact your local St. Clair Township library branch for more information, see below.

St. Clair Township Library Branch Phone Numbers Brigden (519-864-1142); Corunna (519-862-1132);

Courtright (519-867-2712): Mooretown (519-867-2823); Som-bra (519-892-3711); Port Lambton (519-677-5217); Wilkes-port (519-864-4000

Lambton County Library presents Makerspace exhibits

There is still time for Canada’s youth to share their vision of Canada’s next 150 years by expressing themselves through art (drawing and painting); photography; and creative writing.

The Canada Day Challenge, an arts contest delivered by the Department of Canadian Heritage, is especially meaningful in 2017, not only because this is the 30th anniversary of the Challenge, but because this year marks the 150th anniversary of Can-ada.

Participants will qualify to win an all-expenses paid grand prize trip for two to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day and to take part in activities marking the 150th anni-

versary of Confederation.

Young filmmakers take note Young aspiring filmmakers can also compete in the Canada Day Video Chal-lenge entitled Here’s My Canada. It is also a Historica Canada project and is also a Canada 150 Signature Initiative.

Here’s My Canada is a multilingual, nation-wide contest inviting Canadians to express what Canada means to them in a 30-second video. This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Bank of Montreal. For more information, go online to: www.heresmycanada.ca

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 4

Canada Day Challenge contest invites young Canadians to share their vision of Canada

Hockey Moms donate to the Mooretown Hockey Association The dedicated Hockey Moms presented Mooretown Hockey Association President Andrew Vandersteen with a cheque for $15,000 at Coaches Apprecia-tion Night at Antonio's Restau-rant on April 4. The Moms raised money throughout last season by hosting a Christmas bazaar, online auction, Mardi Gras dance, and running kitch-ens during several tourna-ments. Presenting the cheque are, left: Hockey Moms Secretary Nicole Wilson; Vice-President Kim Sylvester; and President Laurie Pepper. Missing is Hock-ey Moms Treasurer Meghan Schenck.

Photo submitted

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 5

Heritage CornerHeritage Corner

Six Moore Museum volunteers were re-cently honoured with Volunteer Service Awards from the Ontario Ministry of Citizen-ship and Immigration. The province was represented by MPP Bob Bailey, second from left. Shown here with their awards are, left: Bob McPhee (10 years); Tammy Johnson (5 years); Leo Griffiths (5 years); Mike Johnson (5 years). Moore Museum Advisory Commit-tee Chairperson Jim Townsend, right, was present for the awards. Absent from photo were five-year recipients Deb Bogaert and Del Knight. “Moore Museum is pleased to have this op-portunity to recognize its volunteers for their long-term dedication as they contribute their skills and time to the museum’s pro-jects and programs,” said Mr. Townsend.

MUSEUM HOURS May-Aug.: Friday-Tuesday, 11-5 Sept. to Dec.: Mon. to Fri., 9-4

Outdoor art creating awareness of community her itage

Seasons In St. Clair—Canada 150 Photo contest Until Dec. 15, 2017, St. Clair Township residents are invited to photograph their favourite spots in the township and enter up to three photos in Seasons In St. Clair, a photo contest celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary. Details are available online at: www.mooremuseum.ca

The Moore Museum is seeking submissions from Lambton County artists for the design and creation of a large outdoor mural to en-hance the façade of the museum’s main building. The Moore Muse-um’s main building is housed in a re-purposed two-room red brick schoolhouse that was built in 1942 and expanded in 1952. To pre-vent deterioration of the artifacts due to light damage from the large windows of the school, the windows have been covered. While beneficial to the artifacts, this has resulted in an outside appearance that leads many peo-ple to believe the museum is closed.

The mural will fill a large 28’x8’ “boarded up” win-dow that faces the main road. It will attract the attention of potential visitors and be an attractive artistic addition to the community. It will raise public awareness of the talent that exists in our local artistic community and will present a positive first impression for visitors.

Lambton artists are invited to submit design ideas and bids for the production of this mural. Designs and bids may be submitted to the Moore Museum, 94 Moore Line, Mooretown, until April 30. Further details are available by calling the museum at 519-867-2020.

The Moore Museum gratefully acknowledges the financial sup-

port of Lambton County’s Creative County Fund in funding this pro-ject. The Creative County Fund invests in new and innovative pro-jects that build cultural capacity, strengthen the creative communi-ty, define the County’s unique identity, and enrich the quality of life for all residents.

Mural will go in this space

Ontario Volunteer Service Awards

presented

Shown above with their awards are, left: Bob McPhee (10 years); Tammy Johnson (5 years); Leo Griffiths (5 years); Mike Johnson (5 years). Moore Museum Advisory Committee Chairperson Jim Townsend, right, was present for the awards. Absent from photo were five-year recipients Deb

Bogaert and Del Knight. Photo submitted

See More Heritage, page 6

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 6

More Heritage CornerMore Heritage Corner

By Allan Anderson and Bonnie Stevenson

Tucked away behind the Bury House at the corner of Smith Street and the St. Clair Parkway in Sombra, there sits a tiny log cabin the size of a large garden shed. If you look close, its foundation shows signs of the significant repairs that have been done to make the old cabin safe for visitors to enjoy.

Once inside, you see that the tiny cabin is lined with wood lathing faced with carefully applied plaster, some of which has fallen to the floor over the many decades of the cabin’s existence. Sombra Museum volunteer Allan Ander-son, one of the team that repaired the cabin, estimates the cabin has a total floor space of about 125 square feet, about 60 per cent smaller than the “tiny houses” that have be-come popular on reality television shows.

Now picture yourself, along with your spouse and six chil-dren living in this little cabin through a long, cold Canadian winter. Incredible as it sounds, that’s exactly what the Smith family did when they settled in what is now the Sombra area in the early 1800s.

~ ~ ~ Following the War of 1812, settlement along the St. Clair

River was opened to British veterans and settlers looking to start a new life with a 100 acre crown land grant. This area was one of the last to draw the attention of settlers. During the winter of 1819-1820, three families from Norfolk County set out in a homemade Durham boat to make the 300 kilo-metre journey to what would become Sombra Township. The Burnham and Smith families received property along the river, while Brinton Paine Brown’s property was mostly a black ash swamp located about a kilometre away from the river.

The Smiths were the first to erect a small log house, the one that now stands behind the Bury House. It served as their shelter for two years while they built a more substan-tial house north of the cabin. It then became a milk house,

then a tool shed. For 173 years, the little cabin stood at the corner of Riv-

er Road and Smith line. Little was known about it or its rele-vance to local history. The cabin was eventually donated to the Sombra Museum in 1993 by the Minnie family, descend-ants of the Smiths, and the Demars families, who had pur-chased the property.

Under the direction of museum volunteer Frank McMillan and Mayor Joe Dedecker, the cabin was raised and carried to its new location on the north side of the Bury House, which was then the main museum building. It was set on a con-crete slab and repaired with a new roof and cedar shake shingles. The logs walls were rechinked and it was staged to become a public exhibit as well as secured to protect it from vandals.

For 20 years, the cabin was a popular attraction for mu-seum visitors, but eventually the black ash logs began to crumble. The cabin was closed until St. Clair Township sup-ported the effort to refurbish the building. The project re-quired the help of someone who had experience with log structures, and local resident Brian Rowley, who had built his own log home, offered some initial advice and direction. Museum volunteer George Klompstra and his son, Shane, then took on the project. Replacement logs were obtained from a local Sombra farmer who was tearing down his barn. With experience, creativity, and imagination, the Klomp-stras save this piece of living history for future generations to appreciate.

The log cabin will be open to the public starting on Victo-ria Day weekend as all of Canada celebrates and reflects on this nation’s creation, development, history and future.

Little log cabin at Sombra Museum recently refurbished - original “tiny house”?

Smith cabin is lifted and moved onto the Sombra Museum site in the 1990s. Photo submitted

Smith cabin as it stands today on the north side of the Bury House. Some of the replaced wall logs are easily seen on the bottom of the side wall. Photo submitted

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 7

The Royal Canadian “1st Hussars” Army Cadet Corps Petrolia invites boys and girls ages 12-18 to learn new skills, marksman-ship, orienteering, hiking, leadership, pipes and drum band, and teamwork, participate in many new challenges, make new friends

and attend great summer camps, all at no cost. Join us today!

Cadets are not required to join the mili-tary. For more information, call 519-332-6555 or visit: www.petroliacadets.com

Attention motivated youth

Volunteer firefighters are the ultimate Good Neighbours The good neighbours we meet every day are people who

willingly offer their care, help and support to the people in their community. There are no better examples of this defini-tion than the men and women of the St. Clair Township Fire Department.

There are currently 191 volunteer firefighters serving the people of this municipality, including 18 auxiliary members who take the full training but don’t go on emergency calls. As full time volunteers leave the service, the auxiliary members are brought in to replace them.

Fire Chief Walt Anderson says these volunteers do not just put on bunker gear and walk into emergency situations. There is a vetting process and many hours of training to go through before they are ready to respond to emergencies. “First, the applicant must take aptitude and agility tests,” he said. “If they pass, there is an interview by several of the people from the station the ap-plicant will be serving at. Results from the three are put together and averaged.”

The need for the presence of other volunteer firefighters during the interview process is an integral part of selecting firefighters who are suitable for the station where they will serve. “We like the firefighters to be part of the inter-view because they will know how well the candidate will fit in with the rest of the crew,” he said.

It is also important that the candidate have an appropriate amount of time to devote to the fire service. “We need a big commitment on their part, especially at the beginning be-cause there are a lot of training and certification courses to go through,” he said.

The courses all volunteer firefighters go through are ap-proved by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “Officers train to the 1021 standard and firefighters train to 1001 standards,” said Chief Anderson. “Over time, there are other standards they can train to, like rescue and hazardous materials.”

The components of the firefighter’s role are aided by regu-lated training for novice volunteers and on-going enrichment training for experienced personnel. “We have 42 training ses-sions a year,” he said. “They vary between two-hour and full day sessions, and there are 20 mandatory topics they have to cover every years, including refreshers on vital equipment like the Scott air packs.”

All firefighters also prepare to drive the large vehicles re-quired to respond to emergency situations. “We also upgrade their licences in-house from a G to a D to include the larger trucks with an air brake endorsement,” he said. Additional training such as First Aid and defibrillator use all constitute valuable additions to the firefighter’s overall skill set.

Firefighters have to be ready on a moment’s notice. To this end, they all carry emergency pagers, but they are also be-coming familiar with a new program called Who’s Responding,

which sends the page to their phone as well. Motorists can identify firefighters who are on their way to an emergency by the green flashing lights they are allowed to carry on their vehicles. These lights alert oncoming motorists to yield.

One of the problems some volunteers face is the conflict that occurs when emergencies take place during work hours. Employers aren’t obliged to let firefighters respond to their pages, but Chief Anderson says many do.

Volunteer firefighters are covered by the Volunteer Fire-fighter Insurance Service, which provides coverage from the time the pager goes off until the firefighter gets back home.

They are also covered by Workmen’s Compen-sation at a maximum level and can access the Employer Assistance Plan, which addresses problems that arise when the firefighter expe-riences trauma due to an emergency situation he or she has responded to. There is a confidential resource for firefight-ers who are adversely affected by disturbing incidents they attend. “We have a department chaplain for our people to call,” said Chief Anderson. “Kevin McGlade provides our Chap-lain and Pastoral Support.” Chaplain McGlade is associated with the Port Lambton Baptist Church.

Chief Anderson noted that the nature of the St. Clair Fire Department’s personnel roster is often a cause for post-traumatic stress issues among the firefighters. “In an area like this, a firefighter responding to the scene will often know one or more of the victims he is there to help,” he said.

The availability of state-of-the-art equipment and re-sources is key to the safety of St. Clair firefighters. Chief An-derson cites the close proximity of numerous industrial devel-opments, as well as residential and agricultural areas, as am-ple reason to equip firefighters with the best vehicles, equip-ment and training possible. “We have to have the ability to deliver not only water, but foam firefighting capabilities,” he said. “Council feels a responsibility to give our firefighters the best equipment they can have so we can keep them safe for general emergency situations and for occasions when we are called upon to respond to and support industrial situations.

Public education, safety inspections and assistance during public gatherings are also important roles the 191 firefighters play. “We do school visits to do fire safety education, provide information at information fairs, help out with fundraisers like Operation Christmas Tree, and offer emergency assistance at events like the St. Clair River Run,” said Chief Anderson.

The bottom line is that the word “volunteer” doesn’t mean firefighters are just weekend warriors. They’re well-trained emergency responders who put their lives on the line for friends, neighbours, and sometimes, total strangers.

Our St. Clair Township firefighters are the epitome

of what it means to be a Good Neighbour.

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 8

The Beacon is currently seeking out the Good Neigh-bours of St. Clair Township. We want to hear from residents who know people who never seek recognition for the kind things they do for others.

Throughout 2017, The St. Clair Township Beacon will give St. Clair Township residents a chance to acknowledge the good neighbours who may live next door, down the block, or elsewhere within the township. What better way to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary than with a celebra-tion of our neighbours, friends and, sometimes, complete strangers who help to make our community, and our nation, one we can take pride in.

From now until the end of 2017, we want to hear from YOU. Do you know someone who brightens your life with their thoughtfulness and kindness? If your answer is “yes”, please let us know.

Email The Beacon at: beacon@twp.stclair.on.ca

and write “Good Neighbour” on the Subject line

In a brief message, tell us who your Good Neighbour is and how that person makes a positive difference to you and/or your family.

As space allows, The Beacon will publish excerpts from

these emails in The Good Neighbour Experience column and each month, a good neighbour nominee will be chosen at

random to receive a special Good Neighbour certificate from St. Clair Township during a regular meeting of council.

~ ~ ~

We’ve already heard about a number of caring, thoughtful nominees. Now

let us hear from you.

What’s YOUR

Good Neighbour story?

The Good Neighbour Experience A local Canada 150 project

SWONT District semi-final yields oratorical excellence A superior group of 10 speakers ages 18 and under wowed

their audience at the Courtright Community Centre on April 8 during the Optimists Southwestern Ontario (SWONT) District semi-final. The speakers were required to develop and deliver a speech between four and five minutes in length around this year’s theme, What The World Gains From Optimism.

Six of the speakers won the right to progress to the SWONT District Final at the end of April at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Windsor. They were competing against the winners of other dis-tricts within SWONT. The top two participants at the finals will receive a plaque from the district and a $2,500 scholarship from Optimist International, plus entry in the International Regional and World Competitions in St. Louis, Missouri in June. The top speaker there will have the potential to win $22,500 in scholar-ships.

Right: The six happy, gifted speakers progressing to the SWONT District Final are seen here with Sandy Larivee, Oratori-cal Chair for SWONT District Optimists. With her, counter clock-wise from top left, are: Simona Kukuruzovic (Riverside Opti-mists); Gabe McLellan (West Lorne Optimists); Reese Matos (West Lorne); Adelyn Klumpenhauer (Moore Optimists); Peter Darrach (Petrolia Optimists); and Stacey Merivelle Ngabire (Forest Glade Optimists).

Photo by Bonnie Stevenson

Corunna - Capital city of Canada?

Yes!

If you’ve lived in the Corunna area for any length of time, you probably know the story behind the little stone cairn that sits beside the railway tracks at Hill and Baird Streets. It marks the site where St. George’s Square used to be. In 1823, tasked with the job of finding a suitable capital from which to govern the united Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec), Lord Beresford and his survey team selected the area for its beautiful location. A 10 acre site was designated for St. George’s Square and the place where the future parliament buildings would be built.

The site was quickly rejected because of its close proximity to the United States, a launching area for the occasional cross-border raid, and it was too far from Quebec. But for one shining moment Co-runna was, at least on a surveyor’s site plan, the capital of Canada.

Presenting

St. Clair

Township’s

Save this 4-page insert to help plan your July 1

Canada 150 Celebration Parade (entry form inside)

Dedication - Sesquicentennial fountain park

Fly-over - 403 Honour Flight

Opening Ceremonies

Youth talent show (entry form inside)

Entertainment (tba)

Food ‘n Freezies

Kid-friendly activities

Face painting

Scott Manery and The barn burners

Free admission to the Moore museum

….and a whole lot more!

The most

incredible d

isplay

of

Fireworks

St. C

lair Townsh

ip

has ever

witnessed!

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 10

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 11

Volunteers needed

To help with

Canada 150

celebration Saturday, July 1, 2017 will mark the 150th

anniversary of Canada and St. Clair Township is going to celebrate with a family-friendly party that will be remembered for decades to come. The St. Clair Township Canada 150 Committee is busy planning a day filled with family fun, entertainment, and good food that will be topped off with a truly spectacular display of fireworks.

Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of duties, from grounds keepers to parking assistants to helpers that will assist with the set up and tear down of the site. Students are reminded they can acquire volunteer hours this way. For more information or to volunteer, please call Michelle at 519-867-2651.

Treat yourself and your family to The History of Canada, now available at the Moore Museum. This new publication by the Museum Retail Consortium is two-book set of colouring books that highlight Cana-da’s history, with book one covering 30,000 B.C. to 1836, and book two covering 1837 to the present day.

These informative books offer lots of Canadiana-centered colouring and activity pages. Each book sells for $19.95. Copies are selling quickly and quantities are limited, so call the Moore Museum at 519-867-2020 or drop by from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to purchase your copies.

Canada 150 books available at Moore Museum

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 12

They’ve been called “one of the freshest new sounds to come along in Cancountry in some time” by Editor Larry Delaney and “The best band around” by Chuck Santoni, program direc-tor of WSAQ Country 107.1. But on stage, they just call themselves Scott Manery and the Barn Burners.

Scott Manery is a Sarnia-based singer/songwriter/musician who made a tremendous im-pression on listeners with his debut CD Tractorcaster and has gone on to become a favourite on the music circuit. Known as one of the best opening acts in Ontario, the band has warmed up the crowds for top name artists like Brookes & Dunn; Lady Antebellum...twice; Rascal Flatts; Toby Keith; Keith Urban; The Good Brothers; George Canyon and many more.

Band members include Scott, a second generation guitar player, has a degree in Theatre, which explains his engaging stage presence. Guitarist Dave has a music degree from Toronto’s Humber College School of Jazz, and drummer Brian fronted and played drums for a touring band for over 15 years. Together, they keep crowds happy from the first chord to the last echo of the amplifier. Don’t miss this this opportunity to see one of the best acts in Canadian country music on stage at 7 p.m. at the St. Clair Township CANADA 150 Celebration.

July 1 Canada 150 Celebration will forge lasting memories

Scott Manery and Barn Burners headline Canada 150 evening Canada 150

event schedule 3:00 - Parade - Dedication: Fountain park 3:30 - 403 Honour Flight fly-over 3:30 - Opening Ceremonies 4 - 5:30 - Youth Talent Show 5:30 - 7 - Entertainment (TBA) 7 - Scott Manery and the Barn Burners

10 - Fireworks!

beginning of the celebration. Opening ceremonies will be at the main

stage, which will be kept busy throughout the day with a youth talent show, great entertain-ment, and an evening performance of country music favourite Scott Manery and the Barn Burners.

For the children, mammoth inflatables will dominate a play area, where face paint-ing artists will transform youngsters with colourful designs. Food and water will be offered free of charge, with delicious freez-ies to add to the fun.

Young performers will be taking over the stage in the afternoon as they display their energy and their many talents to delight the audience. (Public entries for the talent show can be registered using the registra-tion form to be found over the page 11.) There will also be local entertainment by up-and-coming musicians to cap off the after-noon.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Moore Muse-um will be open to the public with free ad-

mission and on-going demonstrations throughout the day.

In the evening, Scott Manery and the Barn Burners will bring their critically-acclaimed brand of “Cancountry” to the stage in a performance you won’t want to miss. (See below.)

And just as the celebration is winding

down, it’ll be time to bring the noise

with an incredible fireworks finale that’s sure to thrill!

For more information as it becomes available, or to obtain registration forms for the parade and talent show, be sure to watch for the St. Clair Township Canada 150 Facebook page, coming later in May, or go online to:

canada150@twp.stclair.on.ca Note: Residents will also be receiv-

ing a Save The Date informational post card in the mail. Keep it on the refrig-erator or taped on the calendar to en-sure you’ll be part of this history-making day.

Although the details are still being worked out, Canada 150 on July 1 is shaping up to be a mammoth event that’s sure to forge lasting memories for all who attend.

Motorists will find arrival at the Mooretown Sports Complex celebration site eased by the addition of a shuttle bus that will run from the parking overflow area at the No Frills store north of the complex. The bus is slated to run from the beginning of the event to about 11 p.m.

The opening parade at 3 p.m. which will feature a procession of five wagons pulled by teams of beautiful horses bearing dignitaries to the opening ceremonies. (Public entries for the parade can be registered using the registration form to be found over the page 10.) It will precede the dedication of the new Sesquicen-tennial Fountain Park, which is located at the St. Clair Township Civic Centre across the street from the Mooretown Sports Complex. Then, the sound of airplane engines will be heard as 403 Honour Flight flies in formation to herald the

Hearing that you or a loved one has cancer is terrifying; hearing that helpful treatments exist but that they are well beyond what you can afford to pay and not covered by OHIP is devastating. But hearing that there is a program to help fund those treatments carries a ring of hope for life and for the future. That’s what the ACT Now program does for patients and the people who love them - it gives them hope. Port Lambton residents Deb Vandendool, who is fighting cancer for the third time in 18 years, and her husband, Wayne, know all about the program and are trying to raise awareness and funds to help ensure all patients will feel that sense of hope. The couple recently hosted A Night for Cancer, a fundraiser that celebrated a time when the “C” word would refer to the word “cure”.

The Port Lambton Knights of Columbus Council 10873 kicked off the Vandendool’s fundraising effort with a donation of $300. The Optimist Club of Sombra also of-fered its support to the effort.

On its website, ACT Now explains that medical break-throughs often carry a hefty price tag, sometimes thou-sands of dollars per treatment, and many are not cov-

ered by OHIP. The program, available to patients receiv-ing cancer care at the London Health Sciences Centre’s London Regional Cancer Program, can often assist with or fully cover those costs.

Above: Deb and Wayne Vandendool, left, accept the donation from Grand Knight Frank Johnston and Knight Joe Johnston.

For more information, go online to: www.actnowforcancer.ca

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 13

H o p e l i v e s w h e n w e A C T N o w

Watch out for www.portlambtonpirates.ca, a new website slated to roll out in Port Lamb-ton in mid-May. Jeremy VanRuymbeke, a member of the Port Lambton Athletic Associa-tion, says the new site will be launched very soon.

“It will be our message board to the com-munity about all PLAA events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, GALA Days, and more,” he said. “It will also be a tool for our minor baseball organization for scheduling, team info, scores, and online registration.”

Jeremy says the website will track the pro-gress of all Port Lambton teams from mite girls to rookie boys, all the way up to the sen-ior men’s team.

Registration and payment can be made online to teams, event scheduling, and team scores will be available at the click of a mouse button. Fans can see team rosters and details, and follow their season.

Subscribers to any team can receive text alerts on schedule changes and score alerts right to their phones.

Game Changer Links for select teams will let you join the team and follow games on any desktop, tablet or phone (not video feed). The calendar will display all PLAA special

events (Gala Days, Easter Egg Hunt, etc.) and much more. “It will look and feel like a sports website but it will be used as a PLAA message board for everything going on in the communi-ty,” said Jeremy. “You can see who our exec-utive is and communicate with us when need-ed.”

Of course, a website this sophisticated comes at a cost, but the organizers have that covered as well.

“Anyone who owns a business or wants to show their PIRATE PRIDE can explore sponsor-ship opportunities, available at a low cost,” said Jeremy. “They can have their logo on the website.”

Proceeds from any advertising/promotional items listed on the new website will be chan-neled to two good causes.

“We are a not-for-profit organization and the website ads are a way of helping to cover its operating costs,” said Jeremy. “We make no money off the ads and any business who donates will receive a tax receipt for the do-nation.”

Anyone interested in supporting the new website with donations or ads can contact Jeremy VanRuymbeke at: jvr_20@hotmail.com

New community website coming to Port Lambton

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 14

Be a healthier, happier you with the Rapids Family Health Team The following sessions are being offered at the Rapids Family Health

Team clinic, located at the Shell Health Centre, 233 Cameron Street in Corunna. There is no charge for participation but you must register for each one you take. Please note that space is limited. If we are unable to accommodate you for the day of your choice, we will put you on a wait-ing list for future sessions. For more information, go online to: www.rapidsfhteam.ca or to register, call 519-813-9800 and speak to reception.

Living With Diabetes This is a two hour session that provides a general overview of diabe-

tes. We will discuss some of the most common myths about diabetes, learn what “good control” is, and discuss some of the things you can do to manage diabetes. The next sessions, led by a Nurse Educator, will be held on Monday, May 8, 1:30-3:30; Monday, June 5, 9:30-11:30; Wednesday, July 19, 1:30-3:30; and Wednesday, Sept. 13, 9:30-11:30.

Diabetes Healthy Eating and Keeping Active This is a two hour session for people who have already attended our

Living with Diabetes class or who have had past education on the basics of Diabetes and want more information on diet. We will discuss the basics of healthy eating, what types of food affect your blood sugar levels, reading food labels, when and how much to eat, and how to increase your physical activity level. Sessions led by a Registered Nurse will be held on Monday, May 15, 1:30-3:30; Monday, June 12, 9:30-11:30; Wednesday, July 26, 1:30-3:30; Wednesday, Sept. 20, 9:30-11:30.

A Guide To Diabetes Prevention This is a 1.5 hour group session for those who want to learn about

diabetes and how to prevent it, or for those who have been told they are at risk of getting diabetes. This session is led by a Registered Nurse and a Registered Dietitian. They will discuss what diabetes is, risk fac-tors for getting diabetes, and how to decrease blood sugar levels through lifestyle changes. The program is open to the public and no physician referral is required. The next sessions will be held on: Friday, May 19, 9:30-11:30; Wednesday, June 21, 1:30-3:30; Monday, July 24, 1:30-3:30; Friday, Sept. 15, 9:30-11:30.

Healthy Eating and You This program is a series of four sessions of two hours each. It will

help you make permanent changes and is NOT a diet program. You will set your own healthy eating and physical activity goals and learn how to make plans for achieving them. Some topics that will be discussed will include: carbohydrates, protein and fats (good and bad); physical activi-ty; emotional eating strategies; sensible portions and portion control strategies; group discussions to help you learn from the experiences of others. This program is open to the public. No physician referral is re-quired. The next program will begin Thursday, June 1 for four weeks from 9:30-11:30. Patients must attend the first class to attend the final three.

Quit Smoking Workshop This is a two hour session for those who are thinking about quitting

or are ready to quit using tobacco. We will discuss strategies and meth-ods for quitting, such as cutting back, using nicotine replacement thera-py, and using prescribed medications. We will also work on finding ways

to overcome barriers to quitting, how to make a quit plan, managing withdrawal symptoms, and how to prevent a relapse. The workshop is open to the public and no physician referral is required. Participants are also welcome to schedule individual appointments to receive further support and information from one of our Nurse Educators. The next Quit Smoking sessions are slated for Wednesdays on: May 17 from 1:30-3:30; June 14, 1:30-3:30; July 19, 9:30-11:30; and Aug. 9, 1:30-3:30.

Stress Management Workshop Created by our registered Social Worker, this two-hour seminar,

offered monthly, will provide you with information on how to effectively manage stress through: regulating the stress response; goal-setting; problem-solving; challenging unhelpful thinking; and communicating assertively. This seminar is open to the public and no physician referral is required. The next seminars will take place Fridays at 9:30-11:30 on: May 5, June 2, July 14, Aug. 11, and Sept. 8.

Happiness 101 Happiness 101 is a four-week group program that focuses on being

happy, adapted from the manual Happiness 101 by Dr. Louise Lambert. The sessions will discuss 12 simple interventions for a happier life using positive psychology for people who are depressed, languishing, or flour-ishing. Participants will learn to take charge of their happiness by in-creasing their frequency and range of positive emotions and positive experiences. The goal is to help participants generate a new mindset geared exclusively to the creation of a greater, more durable state of happiness. This group has been successfully run by several other Family Health Teams in Southwestern Ontario. The program will begin Tuesday, June 6 for four weeks from 9:30-11:30. Patients must attend first session to attend the final three.

Teaching kitchen Healthy cooking classes will not only help you build your knowledge

of healthy eating, but also help you apply them in a friendly group set-ting. A wide range of health conditions and topics include: heart health, digestive concerns, vegetarian, cooking for one, increasing fruit and vegetables, high blood pressure and more. Classes are open to the pub-lic and no physician referral is required. The next classes are slated for: Thursday, May 18, 1:30-3:30; Wednesday, June 21, 2:00 - 4:00; Wednes-day, July 26, 10:00 - noon; Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1:30-3:30; and Thurs-day, Sept. 14, 1:30-3:30. Location will be supplied during registration process.

Note: Class dates, times, and location within Corunna is subject to change/cancelation depending on number of patient registrations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Laboratory services offered Laboratory services at the clinic are available

Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New patients being accepted A new family medical practice has opened at the Shell Health

Centre (Rapids Family Health Team), 233 Cameron Street, in Co-runna. Applications are now available by calling 519-813-9800.

Mooretown Lady Flags seek players age six through 14

The Mooretown Lady Flags hockey team is cur-rently accepting applications for the following divisions: Novice, Atom, Peewee, and Bantam. Please go online to mooreminorhockey.com for information and to submit applications. The team

is looking for females age six through 14 who wish to play hockey for the upcoming 2017-2018 season (born between 2003-2011). Our hockey system focuses on fair play, fun, excellence, citizenship, equity and integrity, putting the player experi-ence, both on and off the rink, at the forefront. If you have a female player interested in playing hockey next season or have any questions, please email: mooretownladyflags@gmail.com

LSA seeks board members The Lambton Seniors Association is seeking a few

motivated retired people over age 50 to fill positions on its Board of Directors. The LSA is a group dedicated to helping Lambton County Seniors maintain their inde-pendence and enhance their quality of life. This not-for-profit agency is funded by the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton, addressing issues facing seniors with programs like the Handyman/Handywoman Program. The group also organizes the annual Seniors Information Fair held each May. Anyone interested in helping to strengthen and further the good work of this important group can call the LSA office at 519-339-8866 or email: lambton-seniors1@gmail.com

Become a community builder as an Optimist Club member

The Sombra Optimist Club is looking for new mem-bers who want to help their community thrive. This vol-unteer organization exists to make their community a better place by doing great things for the youth in their area. Be a friend of youth - join the Optimist Club of Sombra. For more information or to become a member, call Carla Aarssen at 519-892-3536.

Brigden United Church services and activities

Brigden United Church holds regular services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. In addition to regular services, the church will again host Messy Church is underway and will continue through next June from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The weekly event features a relaxed evening of worship, crafts, and a provided supper. Children must be accompanied by an adult; parents and grandparents are welcome. This event introduces children to a faith-based life in a fun and informal way. And the Moms and Tots Drop Inn happens at the church every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The program is held under the auspices of Sombra Rural Childcare. For more information, call 519-892-3151.

Your change helps the St. Clair Trail Donate your spare change to the St. Clair Trail through the

Pennies for Pavement program. Just drop it off at the follow-ing locations: Shaykin Bait Variety in Port Lambton (the Cana-da Post office no longer accepts donations) or the Pic-N-Pay in Sombra Village. Every penny will be matched 2:1 by St. Clair Township Council. Bricks, benches, and blocks can still be ordered to commemorate a special occasion or to provide a lasting memorial to departed loved ones. To place an order, contact Laura at 519-862-2442 (north end of trail) or Janis at 519-892-3223 (south end of trail). You can also visit the trail Website at: stclairrivertrail.com

New members welcome - Lambton County Jr. Optimists

The Lambton County Junior Optimist Club is always on the lookout for youth who want to make a difference in their community. Club members ages 10 through 18 volunteer in the community and fundraise to put on their own programs and to donate to other youth programs. All hours spent volun-teering through the club can be used toward members’ volun-teer hours at school. The club meets the first Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Courtright Community Centre. For more information, call Mary Lou at 519-862-3950.

Community ContactCommunity Contact

The OEYC Sarnia-Lambton is a free family drop-in program operated by Sombra Township Child Care Inc. for families with children ages 0 to 6.

Best Start Hub - Riverview Central School 3926 St. Clair Parkway, Port Lambton, 519-892-3151

Hours of Operation: Tuesday, & Thursday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Best Start Hub - St. Joseph’s School, Corunna 535 Birchbank Drive, Corunna , 519-862-5071, ext. 224 Hours of Operation: Monday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.;

Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Brigden United Church, 2420 Jane Street, Brigden

519-892-3151 Hours of Operation: Friday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For a complete listing of hours and parent/caregiver workshops, go online to: www.ontarioearlyyears.ca .

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 15

Brigden TOPS group meetings Brigden TOPS hold their meetings every Tuesday night at the

Brigden Optimist Hall. Weigh-ins are from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Meetings are from 6:45 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. For more in-formation, please call 519-864-1865. The TOPS mission is to help our members to sensibly take off and keep off pounds.

TOPS group meets in Port Lambton The Port Lambton TOPS weight loss group meets every

Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the Port Lambton Community Hall. For more information, call Margaret Ann at 519-677-5665 or just come out on Thursday nights. Everyone is welcome.

Let Corunna TOPS group help you reach your goal

The non-profit TOPS Corunna meets every Tuesday at St. An-drew’s Presbyterian Church at 437 Colborne Street in Corunna. Weigh-in is 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a short meeting from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend so drop in for a meeting. For more information, call Wendy at 519-862-2808.

Recovery support group meets weekly Recovery International, a self-help group for those

who struggle with mental health issues, meets on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Church in Sar-nia. For more information, contact Rita at 519-867-2932.

Local Ontario Early Years Locations

Summer fun and fitness at the Mooretown Sports ComplexSummer fun and fitness at the Mooretown Sports Complex

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 16

Summer’s nearly here and you might still need to tweak that summer body of yours! Fear not! The Mooretown Sports Complex offers a wide range of activities and programs to prepare you for a super summer! Try spinning classes or enjoy the luxurious feel of water as you swim in the pool, ease away the tensions of the day in the hot tub, or relax in the sauna. If getting in shape is your goal, the fitness centre offers a wide variety of equipment that can help you get lean and toned.

And when school lets out, it’s summer camp time again. Check out the great summer activities the Mooretown Sports Complex has waiting for the school -aged children in your family.

Summer Camps for kids

Summer Day Camp Children ages 5-12 will enjoy the many activities

waiting for them at summer day camp, being offered from July 4 to Sept. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost per child is $27 per day, $110 per week; and $861 for the summer. Early drop-off and late pick-up is available for an additional $15 per week per child. Family rates are available.

Summer Sports Camp Sports-minded children ages 5-12 can participate in

summer sports camps from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (full weeks). Golf, the sports combo, and track & field are being of-fered for $27 per day or $110 per week. Early drop-off and late pick-up is available for an additional $15 per week per child. The summer rate is included with day camp and family rates are available.

Red Cross Babysitting Course School-aged kids age 11 and up are urged to expand

their skill sets by taking the Red Cross Babysitting course on Monday, June 9 (PA day) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $50 per student.

Become a Lifeguard or Swim Instructor before summer!

Call today to get information about becoming a life-guard before summer. Lifeguard=NLS, Instructor=WSI, and LSS Instructor courses are taught. Prerequisites are required so call to find out more about becoming a life saver. See contact information below.

Spinning classes for everyone Spinning classes are offered here! Join our certified spinning instructors for a great workout to improve your cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and pow-er. Join any time for a 12 week session for $10 per class or buy a 10 pass admission for $80. Morning Spin classes are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. -7:45am. If you’re a beginner, there are classes designed for you on Tuesday Evenings from 7:15 p.m. - 8 p.m. If you’re looking for strength training combined with a spin workout, come to the Bikes and Bells class on Monday or Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00pm, or Friday from 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.

Muscle Mix group classes offered You can join the Muscle Mix group fitness class any

time. These classes include kettlebell training that will build lean muscles, improve strength and power in your upper body, core and lower body, and increase coordina-tion, joint mobility, and overall endurance. Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. or Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $45 for a

10 visit pass, or is included in the full fitness centre membership.

Shallow/Deep Water Aerobic Fitness Classes

Programs include a variety of exercises that target posture, muscular endurance, strength, cardiovascular, flexibility, and balance. Shallow and deep water - in-struction given in both classes on Monday and Wednes-day from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Shallow water instruction also given on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost is $6/class, $5/ senior, $45/10 visit pass/ in-cluded with $225/year full fitness centre membership.

Arthritis, fibromyalgia, and post-rehab water exercise

This program includes cardiovascular training, func-tional fitness, muscular endurance and strength, balance and flexibility training with a goal of improved mobility. Classes are held Tues. and Thurs. from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. The cost is $6/class, $5/ senior, or $45/10 visit pass. Pass is interchangeable.

Public inline skating Public inline skating is offered on Sundays from 1

p.m. to 2:15 p.m. until June 18. Cost is $2.25 per child; $3.25 per adult; $6.50 per family.

Free - Indoor walking/low impact exercise program

Indoor walking, low impact exercise is offered each week on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. This program is provide by the West Lambton Community Health Centre. For more information, call 519-344-3017, ext. 237.

Rink floor rentals Rink floor rentals are available now until Aug. 9. Cost

is $55/hr for adult; $45/hr for minor; call for special events rates. Contact 519-867-2651 for available dates and times.

3-on-3 ball hockey Games will be held on Wednesday nights until June

28. Current tyke, novice, atom and peewee players only. To register, call Mike at 519-312-1181 or email: mmac-leod25@cogeco.ca

Campgrounds open May 5-Oct. 15 All three St. Clair Township campgrounds, Moore-

town, Cathcart, and Branton-Cundick, will open May 5 for seasonal, daily, weekly, or monthly occupation. For complete rates, go online to the address below.

For more information or to register for any of these programs, contact the Mooretown Sports Complex at 519-867-2651. Find us online at: www.stclairtownshipcommunityservices.ca

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 17

The St. Clair River Run for 2017 is set for Satur-day, July 15. Choose between the stroller-friendly 5 km walk/run or the 10 km run. Participants’ perfor-

mances are tracked with chip timing and all run-ners receive a technical shirt.

Enjoy the cool river breezes and incredible scenery as you go, and listen to the energizing en-route entertainment. You’ll be met with a cheer-ing crowd at the finish line and receive a finish-

er’s medal for your efforts. Kids will get in on the fun with their own free

Minnow Run. This event is presented by CF Industries and all

proceeds from this event will benefit the St. Clair River Trail.

The action will start at Brander Park south of Port Huron at 7:30 a.m. To regis-t e r g o o n l i n e : www.stclairriverrun.ca. For more information, contact Rose at 519-677-5924.

Mooretown hosts annual event to benefit Canadian Mental Health Association

Annual trail fun to be found at St. Clair River Run

The annual Lambton Kent CMHA Ride Don’t Hide event to benefit the Canadian Mental Health Associ-ation will take place at the Mooretown Sports Com-plex, 1166 Emily Street on Sunday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register individually or with a team and ride in memory of a loved one or as a sign of your commitment to ending mental health stigma. Your registration will include entry in the event, an event t-shirt, a swag bag, breakfast and a barbecue lunch. Host sponsors are St. Clair Township and the St. Clair River Trail.

Registration is $45 from May 1 to June 25 and youth age 12 or younger ride free.

Routes: RDH 80 – 8:00 a.m. Start Time – new this year -

Suitable for advanced experienced cyclists. Will take approximately 3 to 5 hours depending on individual pace RDH 80 km map.

RDH 50 – 8:30 a.m. Start Time – Suitable for experi-enced cyclists. Will take approximately 2 to 4 hours depending on individual pace RDH 50 km map.

RDH 20 – 9:00 a.m. Start Time – Suitable for recrea-tional cyclists. A reasonable challenge for an in-experienced rider. Will take approximately 1 to 2.5 hours depending on individual pace RDH 20 km map.

RDH 8 – 9:30 a.m. Start Time – Suitable for youth, families and new riders. Will take 30 min to 1 hour depending on individual pace RDH 8 km map.

One hundred per cent of the funds raised from

ride registration fees and rider fundraising go direct-ly to our youth mental health programs. Proceeds from Ride Don’t Hide continue to support three initi-atives: BeSafe mobile app; SafeTalk; and the new Mental Health Champion Award (a YMCA Celebration of Youth Award). Fo r more i n fo rmat ion, go on l i ne to : www.ridedonthide.com, Twitter @ridedonthide, or go to RideDontHide on Facebook.

CMHA Lambton Kent background

In February of 2011, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branches in Sarnia Lambton and Chatham Kent, Ontario merged to form one branch: CMHA Lambton Kent. The merge created a strong branch capable of providing professional mental health experts and additional resources to serve the Lambton Kent region. In Lambton Kent, CMHA provid-ed individualized services as well as community and workplace education to over 4000 adults and youth in 2016. CMHA LK services are client driven, with an in-tegrated organized approach to meet the needs and choices of people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. CMHA services are divided into three categories: Crisis Intervention and Short Term Ser-vices, Integrated Client Services, and Mental Health Promotion. The purpose of these services is to help individuals develop and maintain their capacity to achieve their goals and to live as independently as possible in the community.

Cruickshank Community Centre hosts weekly activities The Cruickshank Community Centre hosts two popular activities each

week. Morning coffee socials run from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m.

to 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome. And euchre nights are held on Tues-

days at 7 p.m. The cost is $3 per session, which includes light refreshments. Courtright Friendship Club plays cards The Courtright Friendship Club plays euchre every Wednesday

afternoon at 1 p.m. and Pepper every Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at

the hall located at 1533 Fourth Street in Courtright. Everyone is

welcome to attend and try out their card skills.

Cribbage played at Corunna United Church Cribbage is played every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

at Corunna United Church on Hill Street. Come out, test your skills,

and enjoy a morning of fun. LEO offers exercise for seniors in Sombra

Lambton Elderly Outreach continues to offer Forever Fit exer-

cise classes for seniors at Sombra hall. Classes are Mondays and

Thursdays at 9 a.m., and Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Chair exercise is of-

fered at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Everyone 55 and old-

er are welcome. Shoes with a good tread on the sole are required.

Summer’s nearly here! Brigden fairgrounds events

There are two events slated for June at the Brigden Fairgrounds.

The Brigden Campout Country Jamboree is slated for Father’s Day

weekend, June 14 to 18. For details, see the Brigden Fair Facebook

page and webpages, or email: Bill.Myers@brigdenfair.ca The sec-

ond event will be the Brigden Country Arts and Crafts Show to be

held on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors can email:

finance@brigdenfair.ca

Summer Kick-off at Corunna Legion The 6th Annual Summer Kick-off party at the Royal Canadian

Legion Branch 447 hall is slated for Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m.

to 11 p.m. Everyone is invited. More details will be seen here in the

Beacon as they become available.

13th annual Sombra Optimist Car Show The Sombra Township Optimist Club will be host its 13th an-

nual Car Show at beautiful Brander Park on the St. Clair River in

Port Lambton on Saturday, June 17 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The

show features numerous classic and late model vehicles, and there

will be a food booth, licensed refreshment tent, and a live band to

enjoy while you take in the scenic St. Clair River. For the children,

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 18

S t i l l M o r e A r o u n d T h e T o w n s h i pS t i l l M o r e A r o u n d T h e T o w n s h i p

From page 19 there will be soapbox races, with registration at 9 a.m. and practice

runs starting at 10 a.m. Dotsy the Clown will be there from noon

to 2 p.m. to do face painting, the splash pad will be open, and bal-

loon animals will be made for the them. There is no pre-

registration for vehicle display and an easier format has been

adopted to get vehicles on-site and parked more quickly. Registra-

tion will only be done on the day of the event for $10 per vehicle

and $5 for a second vehicle. Spectators admission is free. For more

information, contact Carla at 519-892-3536 or email: caars-

sen@hotmail.com

Moore Museum model train event The Moore Museum’s Model Train event is slated for Sunday,

July 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Additional model train layouts will be

on display at this event, as well as the museum’s regular Lionel

train exhibit. Volunteers will be on hand to discuss model railroad-

ing and all of the layouts will be running. The event will be includ-

ed with the regular admission price.

Summer camp set for Brigden United Church Brigden United Church will host two full-day summer camps

this year. There will be a free camp held July 17 to 21 and a theme

camp from Aug. 14 to 18. Details will be released to the Beacon in

June or you can call 510-864-1747.

Canada 150 Celebration This Canada Day isn’t just another holiday; it’s Canada’s 150th

anniversary and July 1 in St. Clair Township is going to be EPIC! Start the day downriver in Sombra, where a beautiful new com-

munity dock will be officially opened with a morning community

breakfast and a fabulous Paddlefest featuring water craft of every

size and description. Then, be at the Mooretown Sports Complex

by 3 p.m. so you don’t miss a minute of the St. Clair Township

Canada 150 celebrations. This family friendly event will feature

opening ceremonies, a parade and youth talent show (entry forms

on pages 10 and 11) inflatables and amusements for the kids, free

food, entertainment that’s sure to please, a seniors’ “chill sta-

tion” (sponsored by the Moore Optimist Club), a place to cool off,

rehydrate, rest, and even play a card game or two, plus free admis-

sion to the Moore Museum and a variety of heritage demonstra-

tions that will be taking place, and a fireworks finale that will set

the sky ablaze with spectacular pyrotechnic displays. (See the

Canada 150 information insert, pages 9-12.)

St. Clair Parkway Golf Course 2017 Info 132 Moore Line in Mooretown

SEASON’S GREETINGS! Yes, it’s golf season again and

the St. Clair Parkway Golf Course is revving up for another great season of big greens and big games. 2017 membership rates will be: adult 7-day - unrestricted $1,569.40, restricted $1,207.80; second adult-7 day - unrestricted $1,055, restricted $801.00; sen-ior (55+) unrestricted $1,541.15, restricted $1,202.15; senior 5-day only (65+) $1,156.95; Intermediate (19-29 yrs.) $1,015.70; Family (2 adult and up to 3 children) $2,582.50; Junior 7-day $648.45, 5-day $394.20.

For more information or to register, call the pro shop at 519-867-2160. Find us online at: www.stclairparkwaygolf.com

Job Opportunity - janitor/hall maintenance The Port Lambton Community Hall board is currently seeking a

part-time janitor/hall maintenance person. Duties will include hall clean-up, mopping, cleaning of washrooms, removal of garbage, light kitchen clean-up, etc. Hours will be subject to hall rentals and will vary from month to month.

Interested candidates please contact Andy Kitchen, president of the Port Lambton Community Hall by email at: vtyou123@gmail.com or by mail at: 4036 St. Clair Parkway, Port Lambton, Ont., N0P 2B0.

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 19

More Around The TownshipMore Around The Township

From page 20

hour will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. There

will be entertainment and a cash bar. Tickets are $15 per person

and can be purchased by contacting Mary Lou at 519-862-3950

or emailing: mlabrams@cogeco.ca

Yuk Yuks Comedy at Corunna Legion Need a good belly laugh? Get a bunch of them at the Royal

Canadian Legion Br. 447 Corunna hall on Saturday, May 13

when the Yuk Yuks “On Tour” fundraiser comes to town. Doors

open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are

$20 per person at the branch or $25 at the door. This show may

contain adult material. To purchase tickets, call the branch hall at

519-862-1240.

Mother’s Day Brunch in Brigden Give Mom a treat by taking her and the whole family to the

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Brigden Fairgrounds exhibition hall

on Sunday, May 14. Seating will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and

the brunch will include: pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, ham,

baked beans, scalloped potatoes, toast, fruit cocktail, and beverag-

es. The cost is $10 per adult, $5 per child ages six to 10, and free

for children five and under. For more information, call the fair

office at 519-864-1197, check out the fair’s Facebook page, or go

to www.brigdenfair.ca

Lambton Heritage Museum quilt events Quilters all over Lambton County will enjoy the three quilt-

based events being offered by the Lambton Heritage Museum

south of Grand Bend this summer. From May 13-Sept. 30, 150

Years of Lambton County Quilts will display over one third of

the museum’s 90 piece quilt collection, with quilts made between

1867 and the present. From practical use to quilts based on artis-

tic interpretations, learn how quilts have changed and adapted

over the years. Admission included with regular museum ticket.

The North Lambton Quilters’ Guild Show will be held on June

22 and 23from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 24 from 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. Highlights include a garage sale, vendors, Calico Shop, and

a tearoom. Museum ticket includes admission to this event. And

the Trunk Show with Judy Lyons on June 23 at 1 p.m. will be a

one-hour session focusing on the history of quilts and various

quilt techniques and materials. Judy is a specialist in appraising

traditional and non-traditional quilts and textiles. Free with ticket

to museum.

Bus trip to see “Oliver” The Cruickshank Centre will host a bus trip on Friday, May

19 to see the musical “Oliver” at the Imperial Theatre preceded

by dinner at Stokes Inland. Tickets will be $50 each and must be

purchased on or before Tuesday, April 18. The bus will depart

Thompson Gardens at 4:15 p.m. For more information, call Den-

ise at 519-862-1628.

Annual natural plant sale planned The Sydenham Field Naturalists will hold their annual native

plant sale on Saturday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peers

Wetland, 29644 Kimball Side Road, Wallaceburg. Come early -

plants sell out fast. And while you’re there, tour Peers Wetland

and discover its biodiversity. For more information, check out the

Naturalists Facebook page. Make your garden a garden in harmo-

ny with nature.

Victorian Tea at Moore Museum Spring is here and the Moore Museum is preparing for its popu-

lar annual Victorian Tea, slated for Sunday, May 21 from 1 p.m. to

4 p.m. Enjoy tea and scones served by Victorian-costumed servers

in the charming atmosphere of the turn-of-the-20th-century cottage.

Then, spend the afternoon exploring the exhibits in the other 11

buildings on the museum’s heritage site. Admission is $7 per adult/

seniors, $3 per child, and $2 per pre-schooler. For more information,

call the museum at 519-867-2020.

Corunna Legion jam session The final free jam session of the season will be held at the Royal

Canadian Legion Corunna Branch 447 at 2 p.m. on May 27. You

don’t have to be a member to come out and join the fun - play an

instrument, sing, or just listen - it’s a great way to spend a Saturday

afternoon.

Lambton Seniors Assoc. Annual General Meeting The 27th annual general meeting of the Lambton Seniors Asso-

ciation will be held on Wednesday, May 31 at 9 a.m. at the Chris

Dawson Centre, 420 East Street N. in Sarnia. Guest speaker will be

Tracy Rogers, who will address the issue of elder abuse. This asso-

ciation works and advocates for issues that affect seniors. Everyone

is welcome to attend and new members are always welcome.

Chicken bbq at Corunna UC The congregation of Corunna United Church will host a chicken

bbq on Saturday, June 3, with two sittings at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30

p.m. Proceeds will benefit the United Church Lambton Center. Cost

per meal will be $15 for 1/2 chicken and $12 for 1/4 chicken. For

tickets, contact Mary at 519-862-1052 or Allan at 519-862-1040.

Service is by advance tickets only.

Duthil Cemetery Decoration Day set The Duthil Cemetery Decoration Day service will be held on

Sunday, June 4 at 2:30 p.m. Attendees are reminded to please bring

lawn chairs.

LSA 28th annual picnic planned The 28th annual Lambton Seniors Association picnic is set for

the Petrolia fairgrounds at the Lions pavilion on Wednesday, June

14 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is just $4 per person. The

day will be filled with music, dancing, food, prizes and surprises.

Corunna Firefighter’s Field Day The 40th annual Corunna Firefighter’s Field Day is set for Satur-

day, June 10. The parade will start at 11 a.m. featuring Paw Patrol

characters Marshall and Chase. They will be back at the fire hall to

greet their fans, and the day will also feature inflatables, fire demon-

strations, a barbecue and beer garden. Admission is free and pro-

ceeds will benefit Corunna and St. Clair Township community or-

ganizations. On Saturday night, live music will play from 7 p.m. to

1 a.m.

Weekly Souper Thursdays in Corunna The Parkway Church, located at 551 Murray Drive in Corunna,

hosts a FREE Souper Thursday community lunch every week

from noon to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come to the church

and enjoy a homemade lunch to eat in or take out. Those who re-

quire assistance can call 519-862-3380 to have lunch delivered. For

more information, contact the church online at: parkwaychurch-

michelle@gmail.com

See Still More, page 18

The BEACON of St. Clair Township May 2017 Page 20

Around The TownshipAround The Township Cookie sale to benefit

Lambton Children’s Safety Village The Lambton Children’s Safety Village will receive all proceeds

from a Homemade Cookie Sale being held at the Royal Canadian

Legion in Forest on May 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per

dozen and the selection includes shortbread, chocolate chip, sugar,

oatmeal, and date-filled cookies.

Weekly euchre in Sombra Weekly euchre sessions will be held at the Sombra Community

Hall on Fridays at 1 p.m. as follows: May 5, 12, 19.

Catch The Ace Lottery at Brigden Legion The Royal Canadian Legion Brigden Branch 635 will host the

Catch The Ace lottery starting on Friday, May 5 and running on

Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit homeless

veterans, the 2563 Army Cadets, and the St. Clair Township parks.

Rules are available through the Brigden Legion. This event is li-

censed by St. Clair Township.

Brigden Fair judging schools For those who have aspired to be a judge for Homecraft items at

local fairs, or have wondered what judges look for in the items they

judge, judging schools are now available. These schools are open to

judges, apprentices, and fair exhibitors. Upcoming schools will be

offered in: culinary arts (Ilderton) on Saturday, May 6, and All

About Quilting (Brigden) on June 3. For more information about

these schools, see the Brigden Fair Facebook event page or email:

Michelle.Evanitski@brigdenfair.ca

Book celebrates Canada 150 Local author Margaret Bird will launch a special anthology cele-

brating Canada’s 150 anniversary on Saturday, May 6 from 1 p.m.

to 4 p.m. at the Aamjiwnaang Community Centre, 1972 Virgil Ave-

nue. The book highlights the rich culture and history of Canada, its

peoples, languages, arts and cultures.

Roast beef dinner in Brigden Brigden United Church will host a roast beef dinner on Sunday,

May 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per adult, $5 per

adult, and free for children five and under. For advance tickets only

call Norma at 519-882– 4684 or leave a message at the church of-

fice at 519-864-1747.

18th annual Seniors Info Fair The Lambton Seniors Association presents its 18th annual Sen-

iors Information Fair on Tuesday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and

Wednesday, May 10 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Point Edward Are-

na, 210 Monk Street in Point Edward. Admission is free. Govern-

ment, medical, lifestyle, leisure time, and many other areas of con-

cern to older adults will be showcased during this two-day event.

Food provided by the Sarnia Lions Club and the Women’s Institute

will be available for purchase, there will be door prizes and free

shuttle service from the Point Edward Casino parking lot. For more

information, go online to:

Brigden U C hosts Messy Church Messy Church at Brigden United Church is held the last Tues-

day of each month until through May from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. En-

joy worship, stories, crafts, and supper. All children are welcome

along with a parent, grandparent, or other adult. Or join the congre-

gation for Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. For more information, like

us on Facebook.

Ladies’ Night Out quarter auction A Ladies’ Night Out quarter auction will be held at the

Brigden fairgrounds on Friday, May 12. At Beacon press time,

details were not available. To find out more about this event, go

to the Brigden Fair Facebook page or online to:

www.brigdenfair.ca for further information.

Mother’s Day Tea & Bake Sale The congregation of All Saint’s Anglican Church in Corunna,

corner of Hill and Lyndoch Streets, will host a Mother’s Day Tea

and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 13 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Coffee, tea, and dessert will be served at $3 per order. There will

also be baked goods, a jewellery table, sewing, knitting, and pre-

serves for purchase. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Fire & Family Safety Day in Port Lambton The Optimist Club of Sombra Township and their affiliated

Down River Junior Optimist Club will host a Fire and Family

Safety Awareness day on Saturday, May 13 at Brander Park in

Port Lambton. The day will begin with a bicycle rodeo at 10 a.m.

and at 11 a.m., a parade of antique fire trucks, ambulance, and

emergency vehicles will travel from Brander Park to Mooretown

and back. From noon to 5 p.m. the parade vehicles will be on

display at Brander Park. The firetrucks will be doing water

pumping demonstrations throughout the day. During the after-

noon, a Junior Fire Safety course for children age 12 and under

will be held. Food and licensed refreshments will be available at

the part. Come and enjoy a full day of family fun! For more in-

formation about staging, pumping, or the parade, email Brent at:

brent@denure.ca

Cinderella Story Paint It Forward event The Cinderella Story program, which makes it possible for

every girl to dress well for Prom Night, will hold Paint It For-

ward, a program fundraiser, on Saturday, May 13 from 1 p.m. to

4 p.m. at 198 Lochiel Street in Sarnia. The event will be $40 per

person and will include light refreshments. Reserve seats by e-

transfer by emailing: events@cinderellasarnia.org, password

Cinderella. Sponsors include: The Cinderella Story, RBC

Wealth Management Dominion Securities, and Paint Party.

Moore Optimists celebrate 50th anniversary Members of the public are invited to join members of the

Optimist Club of Moore as they celebrate the club’s 50th anni-

versary with a dinner and entertainment at the Courtright Com-

munity Centre (Silverdome) on Saturday, May 13. The social

If you have a non-profit or charity event or activi-ty coming up in St. Clair Township, or if the event will benefit the residents of the township, you may promote it free of charge in The Beacon. Deadline for Beacon submissions is every

third Monday of each month by noon. E-mail: beacon@twp.stclair.on.ca

Contact The Beacon

See More Around the Township, page 19